Media And Politics Podcast

Tim Wu, author of The Master Switch and professor at Columbia Law School, discussed his new book, The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads, during a conversation at the Shorenstein Center with Erie Meyer, Joan Shorenstein Fellow. Wu, whose past work also includes the FTC, Google, and Free Press, discussed the historical origins of the attention economy, how people are fighting back against the encroachment of advertising, and considerations for media and technology companies. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 25, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.   

Jeffrey Rosen, President & CEO of the National Constitution Center, Professor of Law at The George Washington University Law School, and a Contributing Editor of The Atlantic, delivered the ninth annual Salant Lecture on Freedom of the Press at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on October 13, 2016. Rosen argues that Twitter, Facebook, and Google are facing increased pressure to moderate content in a way that is inconsistent with First Amendment protections—in the name of promoting civility rather than democracy. He discusses the controversy around Facebook’s removal of a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of a naked child from the Vietnam War, problems regarding transparency in content moderation, the EU’s right to be forgotten ruling, and the challenges of online mobs and hate speech, among other topics.

Peter D. Hart, chairman of Hart Research Associates, a public opinion research firm that provides polls for NBC News and The Wall Street Journal, discussed the driving forces behind the 2016 presidential election, and the influence of voter demographics and public opinion on the race. Hart also discussed down-ballot races, polling, and what to expect after Election Day, among other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 19, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.   

Amy Walter, national editor of The Cook Political Report, discussed possible outcomes of the 2016 presidential and down-ballot races, and what may lie ahead after Election Day. Walter, who appears on NBC’s "Meet the Press" and "PBS NewsHour," also discussed the role of voter turnout, Senate races in Missouri and North Carolina, her approach to political analysis, and what to expect during the lame-duck session of Congress, among many other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 18, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.

Joy-Ann Reid, host of MSNBC’s "AM Joy" discussed the role of race within the Republican and Democratic parties, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the need for the U.S. to reckon with its history, in a discussion with Shorenstein Center Director Nicco Mele. Reid, who is the author of the 2015 book, Fracture: Barack Obama, the Clintons, and the Racial Divide, and former managing editor of theGrio.com, also discussed why demographics favor a Clinton win and what to expect from a Clinton presidency, the generational divide among African Americans, and conflicts within both parties, among many other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 11, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.    

Zeynep Tufekci, a New York Times opinion writer who focuses on the social impact of technology, discussed the advantages and shortcomings of the use of technology in protest movements. Tufekci, who is also an associate professor in the School of Information and Library Science at UNC, and a faculty associate at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard, has studied protests and social movements around the world to observe their culture, decision-making processes, and the role of the internet and social media. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 4, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.   

Cathy O’Neil, data scientist and author of the new book Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy, discussed how some algorithms can have an invisible, but important and destructive impact on people’s lives. Decisions about employment, criminal sentencing, and many other areas are now influenced by algorithms and big data. This is a serious problem, argues O’Neil, as there is little transparency about how these systems are constructed or used. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 4, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.   

Patrick Ruffini, co-founder and partner of Echelon Insights, a political research and analytics firm, discussed the September 26 presidential debate and the challenges facing the Republican Party in a conversation with Shorenstein Center director Nicco Mele. Ruffini, who was a digital strategist for George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign and the RNC in 2006, also discussed polling, the resiliency of the Republican Party in other races, voter expectations of Donald Trump, the effect of grassroots movements on political parties, and many other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on September 27, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School. 

A conversation on the state of the 2016 presidential campaign and its coverage in the media, with Bob Schieffer, former CBS News anchor and host of “Face the Nation,” and current Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow; and Ann Compton, former ABC News White House correspondent and current fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics. They discuss the upcoming presidential debates, the role of social media in the 2016 election, and share stories from the campaign trail. Moderated by Nicco Mele, director of the Shorenstein Center. Recorded on September 20, 2016, in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School. 

Molly Ball, political writer for The Atlantic, discussed the 2016 presidential race, the role of the media, and the prospects for both parties in a conversation with Shorenstein Center director Nicco Mele. She also discusses her new article about political consulting and her journalism career. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on September 13, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School. 

Johanna Dunaway, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (spring 2016) and associate professor of communication at Texas A&M University, examines how mobile technology – despite expanding internet access – is also contributing to a digital divide in news consumption. You can read Johanna Dunaway's full research paper on the topic by visiting shorensteincenter.org and clicking on 'Research'. 

Joanna Jolly, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (spring 2016) and BBC South Asia editor, introduces her new research paper examining the increased coverage of rape in India’s English-language newspapers following the infamous 2012 gang rape in Delhi, and whether this coverage led to policy changes. * Listeners are advised this podcast contains discussion of sexual assault. 

Paul Wood, Fall 2015 Joan Shorenstein Fellow and BBC world affairs correspondent, discusses his new research paper, "The Pen and the Sword: Reporting ISIS". The paper, which can be read in full at shorensteincenter.org, tells the harrowing story of a journalist held hostage by ISIS, and examines the ethical dilemmas that arise when reporting on terrorist organizations. 

Dan Kennedy, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (spring 2016) and associate professor in the School of Journalism at Northeastern University, discusses his new research paper providing insight into The Washington Post’s digital strategy and business model following its acquisition by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. 

Marilyn Thompson, a Spring 2016 Joan Shorenstein Fellow and former deputy editor at POLITICO, discusses her new research paper exploring the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, and whether the fund could still provide a viable way to address citizen frustration with the campaign finance system.

Bob Schieffer, Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow, veteran CBS reporter, and former moderator of “Face the Nation,” discussed the media’s performance in covering the 2016 election and Donald Trump’s campaign, and looked ahead to the general election. Schieffer also discussed money in politics, the divide in the Republican Party between its leaders and base, the possibility of an indictment for Hillary Clinton, Obama’s legacy, and more. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on April 20, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.   

The Shorenstein Center hosted a conversation with its Spring 2016 Joan Shorenstein Fellows:Johanna Dunaway, associate professor of communication, Texas A&M University; Joanna Jolly, South Asia editor and feature writer, BBC; Dan Kennedy, associate professor of journalism, Northeastern University; and Marilyn Thompson, deputy editor, Politico. Each fellow gave a preview of the work they conducted at the Shorenstein Center, and answered audience questions. Also featuring contributions from Bob Schieffer, the Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow. This Speaker Series event was recorded on April 19, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.   

Shira T. Center, political editor for The Boston Globe, discussed media coverage of Donald Trump, as well as the relationship between Trump supporters and the press. Center described several factors that contributed to the media’s paradoxical coverage of Trump – characterized by an initial reluctance to view him as a serious candidate, while still providing seemingly constant coverage of him. Center also discussed The Boston Globe’s New Hampshire primary coverage, public reaction to the Globe’s fake front page about President Trump, the inner workings of Trump’s campaign and more.    

Jo Becker, a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter for The New York Times, discussed Hillary Clinton’s role in the U.S. intervention in Libya, which she argues, ultimately contributed to destabilization in the region. Becker spoke about her recent New York Times series, focusing on Clinton’s decision-making process regarding intervention in Libya, an issue where her influence was "pivotal." Evaluating Clinton’s role as secretary of state is important since “it can tell you a little bit about how she would act as president,” said Becker. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on April 5, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.      

Sarah Kliff, deputy managing editor for visuals at Vox, discussed media coverage of the Affordable Care Act, what’s next for health care policy, and Vox’s approach to covering policy. Kliff, whose work has included coverage for Vox, The Washington Post, Politico, and Newsweek, also discussed access to women’s health care and contraception at the state level, the challenges of implementing a single-payer system, improving the efficiency and outcomes of health care spending, and her tips for aspiring policy reporters, among other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on March 29, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.